Keyboard release mechanism



Dec. 18, 19 45. c. M. FRIDEN ETAL 2,391,089

KEYBOARD RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS CARL M. FEIDEH AQIJ'HON Y B. NACHADO #2 I L5 2 ZATTORNEY 13, 9 c. M. FRlDEN ET AL 2,391,089

KEYBOARD RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Znnentor CARL M. FRIDEN.

ANTHONY l3. HACHADO (Itto rneg Dec. 18, 1945. c FR|DEN ETAL 2,391,089

KEYBOARD RELEASE MECHANISM Filed NOV. 10, 1942 6 Sheets-Shee1; 3

a W a a 22 a E /5o IZIL 9/ HM Imventors, CARL H. FRIDEN.

ANTHONY B. MACHADO v Cittorneg Dec. 18, 1945. c. M. FRIDEN ETAL KEYBOARD RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nnentor:

CARL M. FRIDEN ANTHONY B. MACHADO.

qttomeg 1945. c. M. FRlD EN ETAL KEYBOARD RELEASE MECHANISM Filed NOV. 10, 1942 6 SheetsSheet 5 Ill .m mu wEA 3D A FM Ma v! L Tv H A 18, 1945. CM. FRIDEN ET AL 2,391,039

KEYBOARD RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Ha I! //VJ// 70/?.S CARL M. F'I'NDENr AFiTHOHY B. .MACHADO.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1945 KEYBOARD RELEASE MECHANISM Carl. Friden, Pleasanton, and Anthony B. Machado, Oakland, Calif., assignors to Friden Calculating Machine 00., Inc., a corporation of California Application November 10, 1942, Serial No. 465,112

6 Claims.

This invention relates to calculating machines and is concerned more particularlywith the provision of improved means for controlling calculating operations.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling the release of depressed numeral keys of a calculating machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved calculating machine including a control of the keyboard release mechanism as an incident to stopping of the drive.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for disabling the keyboard lock during adding operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified keyboard lock mechanism for the keyboard of a calculating machine or the like machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan View of a calculating machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2' is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the machine taken as indicated by the line 22 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a continuation of the section of Figure 2 at the front end of the machin Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the calculating machine with certain parts shown in section and others omitted to show certain details of the construction more clearly.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section to show thedrive and drive control means of the calculating machine, the view being taken as indicated by the line 5--5 in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is" a fragmentary section showing certain related parts of the keyboard clear or release mechanism and the keyboard lock mechanism. The View is indicated by the line 6-41 in Figure 4. I

Figure 7' is a diagrammatic view of the parts with the add lever in active position.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 7' showing the parts as positioned at the end of an operation with the stopping function being performed.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the parts as positioned with the clutch engaged.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 7 showing the parts conditioned for plural cycle operation with the clutch engaged at driving.

. The inventionis illustrated in connection with the type of calculating machine disclosed in the patent to Carl M. Friden, No. 2,229,889, dated January 28, 1941', as modified in the co-pending applications of Carl M, Friden, Ser. No. 27,338, filed June 19, 1935, now Patent No. 2,310,280, which issued February 9, 1943; Carl M. Friden and Anthony B. Machado, Ser. No. 315,986, filed January 27, 1940; and Anthony B. Machado, Ser. No. 457,537, filed September 7, 1942.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the machine includes a bod In comprising base I! and casing |2 suitably secured thereon and in which the actuating, selecting and control mechanisms are mounted. Register carriage 3 is mounted for endwise shifting movement transversel of body I 0 and carries numeral wheels or dials l4- and 5 of the accumulator and revolutions counter, respectively. Carriage |3 can be shifted by power in either direction by manipulation of respective shift keys l6 and H through suitable shift mechanism, or can be tabulated to a desired selected position by depression of tabulation control key l8 after setting of one of the selected ordinal tabulator keys [9,

Values are entered into the machine by depression of numeral keys 2| of the usual keyboard in the various ordinal rows thereof, keys 2| being releasable individually by depression of ordinal clear keys 22 or collectively by depression of keyboard clear key 23. Values introduced into the machine may be registered additively or subtractively on accumulator numeral wheels H! by depression of plus key 24 or minus key 25, respectively. The number of registrations or its complement can be entered in counter numeral wheel l5 by proper setting of control lever 21. If desired, add lever 28 may be set to cause clearing of the keyboard after a single registration is entered. Numeral keys 2| may be locked in their adjusted position by appropriate setting of keyboard lock lever 29.

Values registered in numeral wheels l4 and I5 can be erased by manual operation of resetting handles 3| and 32 respectively, or by power through depression of return clear key 33.

The machine is adapted to perform automatic division by means of a conventional mechanism including division starting control lever 34. Division stop lever 35 is provided for terminating a division operation when the desired quotient figure is registered.

Within the casing l2, the frame includes left and right side plates 36 and 31 (Figures 2 and 4) which are suitably mounted on base H and are inter connected by various cross frame brackets including one or more tie rods 38 and transverse brackets- 39, 40, 4! and 42 for supporting various mechanisms including the selecting and actuating mechanisms.

Values to be introduced into accumulator numeral wheels I4 are selected by means of a pluralityof similar orders of conventional selecting mechanism including endwise movable slides 43, 43a (Figs. 2 and 3) associated with numeral keys 2| of each bank, keys 2| being latched in depressed position by a spring-urged latching slide 44 for each bank of keys. Keys 2| shift slides 43, 43a which position ten-tooth gears 46, 46a with respect to the steppedteeth 41, 41a of the associated actuating cylinder 48 so that selected increments of movement are transmitted to a square shaft 52 on which gears 46, 46a are slidably and non-rotatably mounted in the usual fashion. Each shaft 52 also carries a spool 53 bearing respective plus and minus gears at its 7 Clutch The drive mechanism which is controlled by any of the operation keys referred to includes a motor' 6| (Figure 2) having a drive shaft 62. A pinion 62a (Fig. through intermediate gear 63 drives gear 64 which is journalled on shaft 66. A clutch is provided for connecting the drive gear 64 to shaft 66 which, as shown in Fig. 4, extends transversely of the machine and through bevel gears 66' drives the actuating shafts 61 on which the actuating cylinders are mounted. Drive gear 64 (Fig. 5) carries a ratchet 69 which is disposed inside the driven portion of the clutch including disc II and ring 12 which rotates in unison with shaft 66. A clutch pawl 13 is pivoted at one end at 14 on'the driven member of the clutch and has spring 'I6attached to its other end to urge it toward the ratchet 69 so that its tooth 11 will engage with the teeth of the ratchet. At its free end the pawl 13) is provided with a shoulder 18 for engagement by the nose of a clutch control lever 19 pivoted at 8|. The lever has a pin 82 by means of which it is operated as later described. A spring 83' urges the lever counterclockwise (Fig. 5) on its pivot 8|.

. Rotation of clutch control lever 19 clockwise cycle (irrespective of release of the pin 82) by the engagement of roller 84-on lever 19 with the If lever 19 is released roller periphery of ring 12. 84 seats in depression 85 in the ring 12 which is of sufficient extent to allow clutch control lever 19 to rock inwardly as the clutch driven ring 12 approaches full cycle position so that the nose of clutch control lever-"I9 can engage shoulder 18 on the clutch pawl 13. V In this manner release of lever 19 causes disengagement of the clutch.

When the clutch is disengaged by control lever 19 (Fig. '7) shaft 66 overruns its full-cycle position under the momentum of the parts and the pawl 13 is swung outwardly beyond its normal disengaged position shown in Figure 7 to the position' shown in Figure 8 by reason of the fact that While the shoulder 18 is held against clockwise movement by the nose of lever 19, the pivot 14 of pawl 13 rotates clockwise when the ring 12 on which it is mounted .overruns full-cycle position. As a result the pawl 13 rotates counterclockwise relative to its pivot 14. In moving beyond its normal disengaged position the pawl 13 engages a lever. 86 which acts as a resilient stop. The lever 86 (Fig. 5) is pivoted at 81 and has a strong tension spring 88 attached to its outer arm. Astop pin 89 restrains the lever from engaging the pawl 13 except when the pawl is swung outwardly in stopping as shown in Figure 8.

The strength of the spring 88 is preferably such that in the stopping operation the lever 86 will be rocked from the dotted to the full line position in Figure 8. When clockwise rotation of shaft 66 and associated parts has been arrested, the lever 86 becomes effective under the influence of its spring 88 to aid the centralizing roller 84 under the influence of the spring 83 to seat in the depression of the ring 12 and return the shaft 66 to full-cycle position.

To control the clutch and the motor circuit, plus and minus keys 24 and 25 (Figures 4 and 5) have associated therewith a slide 9| mounted for endwise sliding movement on the frame plate 92 (Figure 4). This slide has a pair of cam surfaces 93 for engagement by respective pins 94 carried by the keys. Upon depression of one of keys 24 or 25', the slide 9| will be moved to the right as viewed in Figure 5. The slide 9| is provided with a vertical slot engaging a pin 96, carried at the upper end of a lever 91, pivoted at 98 on side plate 31. Lever 91 has an operating connection with a second lever 99 pivotally supported at WI, and having an insulated pin I02 for closin contacts I 03 of the motor circuit. The levers 91 and 99 are adapted to be operated by mechanism not shown whereby other control keys of the machine ma cause engagement of the clutch and closure of the motor circuit.

Cyclic control The pin 96 (Fig. '1) provides the pivotal mounting for a single cycle or a uni-cyclic control lever I06 (Figures 5 and 7) which is urged in a counterclockwise direction by spring I01 to engage its notch or seat I08 with pin 82 of clutch control lever 19. Adjacent to seat I08 the lever I06 is provided with a cam surface I09 for engagement with a pin I- II on the frame plate 31. Thus when lever 91 is rocked clockwise it moves lever I06 pivoted thereon to the right. In the first part of its movement the lever I06 rocks clutch control lever 19 to its clutch engaging position. However, as the lever I06 moves to the right it is rocked clockwise by the engagement of cam'surface I09 with pin I I I. As shown in Figure 9 the lever 19 has released the pawl 13 and the clutch is engaged; in addition, in'the lastpart of the movement of the lever I06 to the right and downwardly, it has released the pin 82, so that the lever 19 is free to disengage the clutch even though the plus or minus keys areheld down at the end of one cycle, as shown in Figure 8. When the plus or minus key is-released. the parts rein front of the fingers I30.

' turn to the positionsshown in Figure 'l. The

plus or minus key may be released'either in midcycle or after the cycle has been concluded. In either event the clutch controlv lever 19 disengages the clutch and, upon release of the key, the lever 91 withdraws the lever I06 to. its original position where it re-engages the pin 82.

To enable the operator to operate the machine continuously for a plurality of cycles means are provided, which when set, place the clutch lever i 16 under the sole control of the plus and minus keys. Pivot pin 96 also provides a pivotal mounting for a bellcrank lever I I6 which has a seat I I 1 at its rearward end for engagement with pin 82 in the position shown in Figure 5 to which position the lever I I6 is normally urged by a spring H6. In single cycle operation the lever I I6 is elevated by means presently described to the position shown in Figure 7 free of the pin 82 and upon movement to the right will be maintained free of the pin by an ear II8 (Fig. 9) on plate 31 engaging the bevelled end of the bellcrank lever II 6. The forward depending end of bellcrank H6 is pivotally connected at II9 to a link I 2! which extends forwardly of the machine and is slotted to engage a pin I22 on the add lever 28 which is pivoted at I23 on the side plate 31. Upon movement of the add lever 28 from the dotted line position (Figure 7) to the full line position link I2I is moved rearwardly of the machine to rock the bellcrank lever IIB counterclockwise on its pivot 96 to disengage its seat I I1 from the pin 82. With the add lever 28 in the down position the uni-cycle lever I06 is left in control.

With the lever 28 in the up position, as shown in Figures 5 and 10, the seat Ill remains engaged with the pin 82. Therefore, when the operator depresses either the plus or minus key the lever 91 moves the lever II6 to the right from the Figure 5 position to the Figure position, i

Keyboard clear It will be recalled that the numeral keys 2I are retained in depressed position by slides 44 (Figure 2) which when moved forwardly release depressed keys. The front end of each slide has a downwardly-turned finger I30 (Figure 3) formed thereon. Disposed behind the fingers I30 and extending transversely of the keyboard (Figure 4) is the flange I 3| of a bail I32 pivotally mounted as at I33 (Figure 3). When the bail I32 is rocked forwardly it draws all the slides 44 forwardly, thus releasing all depressed keys 2I in the keyboard.

The keyboard can be locked by a gate I 40 (Figure 4) which extends transversely of the keyboard This gate is pivotally mounted as at I4I (Figure 3) so that it can be swung up and down. In the down position (Figure 3) the gate I40 is disposed below the fingers I30 so that any or all of the slides 44 may be moved forwardly to release depressed keys when the gate is in this position. The bell-crank lever 29 (Figs. 1 and 6) is pivotally mounted in the frame so that it may be adjusted to up or down position. A pin I45 projects to the left from the lower end of the lever 29 into the path of a pin I46 which projects upwardly from the gate I 40.

When lever 29 is down (Fig. 5) the gate I40 is down and the keyboard may be cleared. The gate I40 has a downwardly-extending arm I48 (Figs. 4 and 6) at the right end, to which, a spring I49 is attached. This spring urges the gate toward the up position and when the lever 26 is moved to its up position the gate I40 is resiliently held in the up position (Fig. 6) when it opposes forward movement of the fingers I30 and thus locks the keyboard.

When the gate I46 is down, depressed keys 2I may be released by depressing ordinal clear keys 22 or keyboard clear key 23. Key 23 (Fig. 5) has a laterally projecting pin I50 which overlies a cam I5I (Fig. 6) formed on the bail I32. Depression of clear key 23 rocks bail I32 forwardly.

When the add lever 28 is set in the down position (Fig. '7) to raise the tail of lever II6 off the pin 82 and leave the lever I06 free to control the clutch for single cycle operation, the lever 28 also conditions other mechanism which operates to clear the keyboard at the end of the single cycle. The lever 86 (Fig. 5) has a downwardly and forwardly extending arm I60 to which is pivotally connected at I6I a forwardly extending link I62. A spring I63 lifts the front end of link I62 which has an up and a down position controlled by the lever 28.

A pin I65 at the foot of lever 28 engages a depression I66 in the upper edge of the link I62 when the lever 28 is" in the up position (Fig. 5). When the lever 28 is moved to the down position (Fig. '7) the pin I65 is swung upwardly in an arc, permitting the spring I63 to lift the front end of link I62.

Lifting the link I62 unlocks the keyboard if it is locked. A laterally extending pin I10 in the front end of link I62 underlies a cam edge "I on arm I48 of gate I40. If the gate is in looking position (Fig. 6) it will be swung down when link I62 is lifted (Fig. '1).

Lifting the link I62 engages a shoulder I15 thereon with a square pin I16 projecting laterally from a leg I11 on the bail I 32. When either the plus or minus key is depressed the clutch makes one revolution and stops. When it comes to a stop the lever 86 is rocked, as shown in Figure 8, drawing link I62 rearwardly. The rearward movement of link I 62, through the engagement of shoulder I15 with square pin I16, causes the bail I32 to be rocked forwardly to clear the keyboard.

We claim:

1. In a calculating machine having a register, actuating means therefor, cyclically operable drive means for said actuating means, and means including ordinal rows of keys for controlling the entry of values by said actuating means into said register: latching means for each row of said keys, a swingable gate normally urged to locking position where said gate prevents movement of said latching means, a bail for moving said latching means to release depressed keys, means including a link actuated when said drive means is stopped at the end of an operation, said link being normally urged toward engagement with said bail, and settable means operativ in one position to maintain said link out of engagement with said ball, said settable means upon being set in another position releasing said link for engagement with said bail, said link in engaging said ball swinging said gate out of locking position.

2. In a calculating machine having a register, actuating means therefor, cyclically Operable drive means for said actuating means, and means including ordinal rows of keys for controlling the entry of values by said actuating means into said register: latching means for each row of said keys, means normally urged to locking position where said means prevents movement of said latching means, a bail for moving said latching means to release depressed keys, means for causing actuation of said bail at the end of a single cycle of operation comprising a link actuated by said drive means, a settable means to control the connection of said link to said bail, said link when connected to said bail moving said latch locking means out of locking position.

3. In a calculating machine having a register,

actuating means therefor and means including ordinal rows of keys for controlling the entry of values by said actuating means into said register, latching means for each row of said keys, locking means operative to prevent movement of said latchingmeans, spring means urging said locking means to operative position, means for releasing said latching means, means for operating said releasing means, means for connecting said releasing means to said operating means, means for moving said locking means to inoperative position, and a common control for said connecting means and said moving means operative to render said locking means inoperative when said releasing means and said operating means are connected.

4, In a calculating machine having a register, actuating means therefor, cyclically operable drive means for said actuating means,- and means including ordinal rows of keys for controlling the entry of values by said actuating means into said register: latchingmeans for each row of said keys, locking means normally urged to locking position with respect to said latching means, means for releasing said latching means, means including a member for operating said releasing means, said member being actuatedwhen said drive means is stopped at the end of anoperation, said member being normally urged to the value entered into said register in each cycle of operation of said actuating means; cyclic drive means for said actuating means including-a pawland-ratchet clutch, means for disengaging the clutch pawl from the ratchet to terminate operation of said actuating means, means for latching depressed keys in depressed position, means for releasing said latching means, and means operated by said clutch pawl upon movement thereof in the termination of cyclic operation of said actuating means for operating said latch releasing means.

6. In a calculating machine having a register, cyclically operable actuating means for said register, and means including keys for controlling the value entered into said register in each cycle of operation of said actuating means; cyclic drive means for said actuating means including a pawland-ratchet clutch, means for disengaging the clutch pawl from the ratchet to terminate operation of said actuating means, means for latching depressed keys in depressed position, means for releasing said latching means, means operated by said clutch pawl upon movement thereof in the termination of cyclic operation of saidactuating means for operating said latch releasing means, and a settable means .for controlling the operative relation of said operating means with said latch releasing means.

'CARL M. FRIDEN.

ANTHONY B. MACHADO. 

